WIPO Patent Committee Cautiously Opens Talks On New Work Programme 10/04/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The member governments of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) cautiously opened discussion today on the future work programme of the committee responsible for harmonisation of patent laws. The issue is contentious as many WIPO developing country members have previously opposed harmonisation, though the issue continues to appear on the WIPO agenda. Patent harmonisation, under […]
WIPO Completes New Trademark Treaty; Impact Remains To Be Seen 05/04/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new international trademark law treaty could streamline procedures for global protection of marks of developed and developing countries, but it is unclear what the impact will be on the majority of members of the World Intellectual Property Organization. The Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks updates the 1994 Trademark Law Treaty, to which […]
Reactions Strong But Mixed To WHO Report On IP And Medicines Access 04/04/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Non-governmental and industry reactions are mixed to a new report from the World Health Organization on the relationship of intellectual property rights, innovation and access to medicines in developing countries. The comprehensive report, issued on 3 April and two years in the making, contains about 50 recommendations for making improving in the current situation but […]
Decision On International Regime On Genetic Resources Postponed Until 2010 04/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Discussions on an international regime on the sharing of benefits deriving from genetic resources at a recent United Nations conference in Brazil focused mainly on procedure, leading some sources to argue that developed countries tried to derail the process. The final deadline for a decision has been pushed back to 2010. The meeting was the […]
WHO IP Report Comprehensive, But No Calls For Major Change In IP System 03/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A much-anticipated World Health Organization (WHO) report by a special commission looking at the relationship between intellectual property rights and research and development into diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries, makes some 50 recommendations on how to improve the situation. The 228-page report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) stops […]
New US Industry, Government-Backed Centre Promotes Industry View In Developing Countries 03/04/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new centre on innovation established at a top law school in Washington, DC is dedicated to promoting acceptance of developed country industry practices in developing countries. The centre is backed by US industry and government, and the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), among others. The Creative and Innovative Economy Center was launched on […]
Interview with Michael Ryan, Director, Creative and Innovative Economy Center 31/03/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Creative and Innovative Economy Center was launched on 1 January at George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. Intellectual Property Watch sat down with Director Michael Ryan recently to discuss his views on industry and development, the project, its funding, and how it plans to influence policy in developing countries. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WATCH […]
Universities See “Disastrous Effects” For Education, Science In German Copyright Reform 30/03/2006 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch A German scientist who would like to read an online book owned by another department of his university soon may have to travel to the department and read it on site instead if a proposed copyright law is passed. “I will not be able to just use our […]
Patent On AIDS Drug Will Not Limit Access In India, Industry Argues 30/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It is “misleading” and “counter-productive” to assert that a pharmaceutical company’s filing for a patent on a HIV/AIDS drug in India will limit access to the drug in the future, GlaxoSmithKline said in response to an objection submitted today in India. The comment is a response to the submission of a “pre-grant opposition” to the […]
Protest Submitted To First Patent Filing Of HIV/AIDS Drug In India 30/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Two Indian HIV/AIDS networks and an international group of lawyers today submitted a protest to the first application for a patent for an HIV/AIDS drug filed in India. The opportunity to stage a “pre-grant opposition” is the “beauty of the Indian patent system,” said Ellen ‘t Hoen of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in an interview. […]